Captain Craufurd of the 91st Infantry Regiment (Princess Louise's Argyllshire Highlanders)

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A fascinating correspondence from the battlefields in Zululand, comprising letters home from Captain Craufurd of the 91st Infantry Regiment (Princess Louise's Argyllshire Highlanders), who was present at the battle of Gingindhlovu on 2 April, the relief of Eshowe and the advance of Major-General Crealock's Division to Port Durnford. Writing two days after the battle to his father and sister in Cramond Bridge, Edinburgh, Craufurd provides a vivid description of the battle ('we had our first engagement ... it was very exciting ... these Zulus attacked us about 6am and almost immediately we found them swarming like bees all around us, firing commenced ... their skirmishing being done most splendidly ... we all admire very much the way they advanced to the attack, our men can't hold a candle to them'). In letters written throughout April, Craufurd describes a march to Ekowe to relieve Colonel Pearson, (describing it as 'badly managed' and critical of a badly chosen position to laager on the return journey with Lord Chelmsford), an incident leading to court martial, details of daily life and sufferings, provisions and equipment, the building of 'Ford Chelmsford', and awaiting the arrival of General Crealock. 'Everyone seems to think the war at an end'; writing from Camp Umlalaasi Plain, Port Durnford on 16 July, Craufurd shows his annoyance at not having been brought to the front sooner, describes 'a lively scene' on the beach, as transport ships and boats are unloaded by sailors and Zulus ('the Zulus are the ones who have surrendered to us and are now in our pay at £1 a month. They ... are much astonished as you may suppose at our proceedings ... a great many showed me wounds which they had got at Ginginhlovo, and their manner of describing how they were wounded was very amusing, especially when trying to imitate rockets or shells'). Letters written in July and August comment on the battle of Ulundi ('the Zulus expected us to get a beating, it only shows that they were still confident'), Sir Garnet's speech to '400 chiefs and headmen of kraals', the departure of General Crealock ('had a sale of all his kit yesterday'), and writing from Fort Inverary, of raids ('we have had one or two others, the most important one being to a Kraal occupied by a Zulu Induna of the name of Eskunian and who is Cetewayo's head butcher'). A touching correspondence, the letters are interspersed with appreciation of the beauty of the surrounding country, with accounts of 'absurd' native customs.

Unfortunatly the letters were sold in 2007. But this one was availlable on the web.

I have been doing a little detective work that is relevant to this thread on another site. Take a look, it's quite interesting.
http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=10865

Steve

Bonsoir Steve,

Sherlock is not dead...Well done!

I.E: About detective's work, I am always waiting your essay on your relative KIA at Isandhlwana...

Cheers

Frédéric

The small sketch of the stand of Colours and Martinis at Ginginlovu was presumably also how they stood at Isandhlwana.

Steve

Steve
I seem to recall mention that the colors were kept in the Guard tent.

Cheers